Naheed Akhtar’s Arrest Sparks Controversy Between Police and Journalists
Haripur Naheed Akhtar, a well-known social activist and journalist from the village of Padni in Khanpur Tehsil, Haripur District, has become the center of a heated controversy after her arrest. A photo of her in police custody was allegedly leaked by Khanpur police officials, and the next day, another picture of her in handcuffs was posted on the official Haripur Police page, taken from the DPO office.
Sources suggest that a group of journalists, who are believed to have close ties with the current provincial government, played a role in viralizing this incident on social media in favor of the police and against Naheed Akhtar. The motive behind this campaign could be linked to a recent dispute within the Haripur Press Club, where the police openly supported one faction, allegedly in an unconstitutional manner. Naheed Akhtar, on the other hand, is known to have friendly ties with the rival group.
Naheed Akhtar has strong affiliations with the Democratic Journalists Panel, which includes a significant number of office bearers and voters from Haripur’s media community. This situation has raised serious concerns among journalists in Haripur, as many believe that, once again, personal grudges are taking precedence over journalistic ethics. The ultimate beneficiaries of this conflict appear to be certain businessmen and the local leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), while the real victims are the working journalists, local citizens, and institutions affected by political interference.
In response to this troubling situation, Shahid Akhtar Awan, a former candidate for the presidency of the Haripur Press Club, met with journalists in Naheed Akhtar’s village to discuss the issue. He emphasized the need for unity among journalists, urging them to set aside personal differences and work towards preserving press freedom and ethical journalism.
The case of Naheed Akhtar has now become a significant test for Haripur’s journalists, as they struggle between standing up for journalistic integrity and resisting political and institutional pressures.
